Would it not be his most prudent course to seize this opportunity?
Certainly the very least he could do was to turn the matter over
carefully.

Perhaps the lord of the manor would offer more if one seemed unwilling
to sell.

At last the bad weather came to an end, and it seemed possible to begin
to think about the sowing.

A suggestion of a warmer spell to come mellowed the freshness of the
morning air when Vogt came out of the yard with his team, The eastern
horizon was gaily tinted. The rising sun shone clear and bright,
sending forth prophetic rays that foretold fair weather.

The young peasant glanced into the cow-house, where the strawberry
seemed scarcely able to sustain her heavy burden, though she was not
due to calve for another fortnight. For the first time Vogt began to
feel some return of joy and content. This strawberry cow was a
magnificent animal. She brought gigantic calves into the world; lively
little creatures too, that made the funniest leaps and bounds, and were
always beautifully marked. One could not but feel sorry when the
butcher fetched them away.

The two dun cows lowed with pleasure when they came briskly out into
the yard, as though they already scented summer, with its mild air and
green grass. He yoked them to the small wooden cart. Then he brought
the sack of seed-corn from the barn. He had laid it in some time
before, and the sack had not been disturbed. But he opened it to
convince himself that all was right. He took up a large handful, and
let the grains of wheat run through his fingers. The seed lay plump and
heavy in the palm of his hand.

Then a current of joy made his heart beat higher. He saw the crop
growing green, then ripening; the stalks crowded thickly together, and
as the summer breeze passed over the field the heavy ears bowed and
swayed like ripples upon the sea.

With a happy glance he looked about him; house and yard were in good
order, the harrow lay waiting in the field, all was ready. And he drove
his team merrily onwards.

The dun cows stopped of themselves when they reached their destination.

Franz Vogt smiled. Yes, this must be a thorn in the flesh for the lord
of the manor! The corn-patch was small; but it stretched out amid the
turnip-fields like a long arm that could hold its own, and that would
not brook encroachment. Rich fruitful soil it was, that scarcely needed
the manure he gave it.

Pride awoke in the heart of the young peasant-farmer. O